Hydrangea plant named `Ravel`

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) named `Ravel` which originated as a sport from the inventor&#39;s controlled commercial growing of the non-patented Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar `Merritts Supreme`, and is distinguished from its parent by the unique pigmentation pattern which causes the florets and inflorescence to be both pink and white, and gives each floret a white center and four pink fan-shaped points at the outer edges, resulting in a pink and white flower at the peak of its bloom, not predominantly a pink flower. The new variety `Ravel` further possesses the favorable characteristics of: agressive, compact growth habit; long lasting large flowers and the ability to be easily forced in a greenhouse for flowering in the spring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theSaxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb.). The varietal denomination is `Ravel`. The newcultivar originated as a sport discovered five years ago growing among acommercial production of the common Hydrangea variety `Merritts Supreme`in a controlled environment. `Ravel` is distinguished from its parentand all other varieties of Hydrangea, of which I am aware, by thedistinctive pigmentation pattern in its sepals which causes the floretsand inflorescence to be both pink and white, and results in theappearance of the plant as having a pink and white flower. The naturallyoccuring colors of Hydrangea plants are either uniformly pink, uniformlyblue or solid white depending on the pH and nutrients of the soil, andthese are the plants most commonly available and grown. Hydrangea plantshaving mixed white and pink or white and blue flower coloring are newand not in common use. This new cultivar has been successfully asexuallyreproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery inHalf Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor over a fiveyear period with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Sepal color of `Ravel` is white with blue or pink pigmentation. Blue orpink sepal pigmentation of individual Hydrangea macrophylla plantsdepends on the nutrients and pH of the growing medium. The uniquepigmentation pattern which gives the new cultivar a pink and white orblue and white flower is created by the sepals being white at the baseand colored at the tips. The outermost points, or tips, of the sepalsare darkest in color, gradually spreading and shading to a lighter colorand disappearing into the white base of the sepal. This gives eachfloret the appearance of being white with four pink or blue fan-shapedpoints at the outer edges. The pigmentation starts with a small amountof color appearing on the outermost tip of each sepal, and the colorgradually spreads out to the sides and down the center as the flowergrows and blooms. The color becomes diluted as it spreads sideways atthe tip and down the center, finally fading away leaving the white colorat the base of the sepal; resulting in the fan-shaped appearance of thepigmentation. When the plant is at its peak bloom, it appears to beuniformly pink and white. This fan-shaped appearance of the pigmentationcan be seen even in very old blooms that develop chlorophyll as theyfade and die. The sepal coloration of the parent, `Merritts Supreme`, isuniformly pink or blue. While there are other Hydrangeas with acoloration pattern on their sepals, none of the other known varieties ofHydrangeas have the particular pattern of `Ravel`. The new variety ofHydrangea as described herein is further distinguished from `MerritsSupreme` by its more aggressive growth habit, and its larger flowers.Mature flowers slowly fade to green and ultimately brown with age. Boththe new cultivar and `Merritts Supreme` have long lasting flowers withtight full heads and can easily be forced in a greenhouse.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttingswere taken by the inventor from the initially discovered plant.Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations, grown in acontrolled environment at Half Moon Bay, Calif., show that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for `Ravel` is firmlyfixed. Asexual reproduction of successive generations at Half Moon Baywas achieved by taking vegetative cuttings from selected plants, over aperiod of five years. Each new generation over the five years retainedthe combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for `Ravel`.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and uniquesepal pigmentation pattern. `Ravel` is shown with a pink and white sepalpigmentation pattern, but a blue and white pigmentation pattern is alsopossible by manipulation of the nutrient amendments and the pH of thegrowing medium. The colors are represented as truly as possible usingconventional photographic procedures. The plants photographed are thirdgeneration plants.

FIG. 1 is a view of a bud of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 is a close up view of the inflorescence showing the beginning ofthe appearance of color in the tips of the sepals as they grow and openup.

FIG. 3 is a close up view of the inflorescence showing the continuationof the growth of the sepals and the appearance of the pigmentation.

FIG. 4 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit,dark green foliage, inflorescence, and unique sepal pigmentation patternat the peak of its blooming period.

FIG. 5 is a close up view of one inflorescence at the peak of itsblooming period.

FIG. 6 is a view of multiple plants grouped together illustrating thepink and white flower at the peak of its bloom; not predominately awhite flower or predominately a pink flower.

FIG. 7 is a close up view of two blooms: the inflorescence on the leftbeing at the peak of its bloom and the inflorescence on the right beingpast its peak and close to the stage of fading and developingchlorophyll.

FIG. 8 is a close up view of the sepals in their various stages ofgrowth and bloom, illustrating the development and appearance of theunique pigmentation pattern at its very early stages of formation, atthe peak blooming period, and at the mature stage just before fading anddeveloping chlorophyll.

FIG. 9 is a view of one bloom at the stage of developing chlorophyllillustrating how the unique pigmentation pattern still shows as thecolor fades and the flower dies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

`Ravel` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The following is adetailed description of the new cultivar as forced under the prevailingdaylengths at Half Moon Bay, Calif., under commercial greenhouseconditions at a time appropriate for the sale of the cultivar in thespring. The color determinations were made with The Royal HorticulturalSociety (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

The Plant

Origin: Sport of `Merritts Supreme`, a non-patented, commercialHydrangea.

Classification:

Botanic.--Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) `Ravel`.

Commercial.--Florist Hydrangea `Ravel`.

Form: Upright, vigorous compact shrub.

The following table compares the new cultivar with its closestcommercial variety of which I am aware.

    ______________________________________                                        TABLE OF COMPARISON                                                                      NEW VARIETY  `MERRITTS                                                        `RAVEL`      SUPREME`                                              ______________________________________                                        PLANT:                                                                        HEIGHT       Mean 40 cm, up to 46                                                                         mean 34 cm                                                     cm                                                               GROWTH       Upright, vigorous;                                                                           same                                                           forced easily to bloom                                                        in greenhouse; growth                                                         regulators necessary to                                                       control height                                                   STEMS        Lateral buds and                                                                             same                                                           lenticels are reddish;                                                        reddish coloration above                                                      and below leaf                                                                attachment site                                                  FOLIAGE      Abundant       same                                              LEAF SIZE    As large as 170 mm                                                                           as large as 150 mm                                             long × 152 mm wide                                                                     long × 140 mm                                                           wide                                              SHAPE OF LEAF                                                                              Elliptic with acute base                                                                     same                                                           and apex; margins are                                                         serrate                                                          TEXTURE OF LEAF                                                                            Glabrous; veins                                                                              same                                                           dominate on underside                                                         and are sunken on                                                             surface                                                          COLOR OF LEAF                                                                              Top 137A,      Top 139A,                                                      underside 137D,                                                                              underside 137C,                                                veins 145D     veins 145D                                        PETIOLES     to 40 mm length                                                                              to 52 mm in length                                THE BUD:                                                                      FORM         Globose; 4-5 connate                                                                         same                                                           petals majority have                                                          sepals; those in the very                                                     center are non-sepalous                                          SIZE         3 mm           3 mm                                              PIGMENTATION green stage - 143D;                                                                          green stage - 145C;                                            mature stage - 71C                                                                           mature stage - 73C                                POLLEN       white          same                                              BUD ASPECT   Smooth         same                                              RATE OF OPENING                                                                            Sepaled buds open                                                                            same                                                           slower than                                                                   non-sepalous buds                                                ARRANGEMENT  Borne on 3, 4, or 5                                                                          same                                                           branched panicles                                                THE INFLORESCENCE                                                             TIME OF BLOOMING                                                                           Approx. 80 days at                                                                           same                                                           66° F. night temp.                                        FORM         Paniculate; 100+                                                                             same                                                           florets per inflorescence                                                     both sterile sepalous                                                         and fertile non-sepalous                                                      on same panicle                                                  SIZE OF      Size depends on the                                                                          same                                              INFLORESCENCE                                                                              number of inflorescences                                                      per plant                                                                     Circumference of 5                                                                           Circumference of 5                                             bloom plant 72.39 cm                                                                         bloom plant 62.23                                                             cm                                                SHAPE        Spherical clusters of                                                                        same                                                           small florets. Sepalous                                                       florets are flat and                                                          overlap each other.                                                           Sepals are persistent.                                                        Sepals elongate and                                                           mature as the bloom                                                           matures. Non-sepalous                                                         florets are hidden by                                                         sepalous florets                                                 APPEARANCE   Very Showy     Showy                                             PIGMENTATION OF                                                                            Red-purple group; Sepal                                                                      66D                                               THE SEPALS   tip 67C (seen as dark as                                                      67A); side of tip 68A                                                         fading to 68B; white                                                          portion is 155A                                                  PERSISTENCE  4 weeks or more                                                                              same                                              FRAGRANCE    Slightly sweet same                                              FRUIT        none           same                                              REPRODUCTIVE                                                                  ORGANS:                                                                       STAMENS      7 to 11 (usually 10);                                                                        7 to 10 (usually 8)                                            pollen is white                                                                              pollen is white                                   STIGMA       One which can be 2 or                                                                        same                                                           3 pronged                                                        SEPALOUS FLORET:                                                              NUMBER OF SEPALS                                                                           3 to 5 per floret                                                                            same                                                           (usually 4)                                                      ASPECT OF SEPALS                                                                           Smooth         same                                              SHAPE OF SEPALS                                                                            Reniform with  same                                                           acuminate apex; edges                                                         sometimes serrate                                                SIZE OF SEPALS                                                                             Usually 1 large, 2                                                                           same                                                           smaller but equally                                                           sized, and 1 small sepal                                                      Largest measured                                                                             Largest measured                                               46 mm long × 35 mm                                                                     47 mm long × 32                                          wide           mm wide                                           LARGEST FLORET                                                                             71 mm long × 62 mm                                                                     60 mm long × 63                                          wide           mm wide                                           COLORATION OF                                                                              See details above                                                                            See details above                                 SEPALS       Sepal color is same                                                           determined by soil pH                                                         and nutritional                                                               amendments supplied                                              ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant variety of theSaxifragaceae family substantially as herein shown and described.